Interchangeable letter sign



Reissued Oct. 8, 1946 INTERCHANGEABLE LETTER SIGN James R. Starnes,Toronto, Ontario, Canada, assignor, by mesne assignments, to NusignElectric Limited Original No. 2,235,188, dated September 8, 1942, SerialNo. 332,412, April 29, 1940. Application for reissue September 7, 1944,Serial No. 553,100

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a portable sign adapted for window display,and of an illuminating character, embodying detachable andinterchangeable lamps in the form of letters, figures and symbols, thelamps employing a luminescent gas, such as neon.

A novel feature of the invention resides in the manner in which thelamps are mounted in the case, and adapted to be readjusted andinterchanged for spelling out names and words, of various numberedletters, and for a general permutation ofthe character of display.

An object of the invention is to provide a mounting for the lettersadapted for lateral adjustment, to facilitate the letters being adjustedat various intervals, as well as permutably to spell out words ofvarious lengths, where the number of letters may be changed from odd toeven, and vice versa, to adapt the words being centered in the case.

A further object of the invention as an illuminating display sign, isthe means for readily interchanging the letters or characters, where anilluminable gaseous mixture is used, such gaseous mixture being of acharacter to produce a glow in various colours.

A further object of the invention is to provide a suitable case formounting the letters and characters, in which may be housed suitabletransformers to produce the transmission of the necessary high tensioncurrent required in connection with lamps employing a luminescent gas asthe illuminating element of the lamp.

A further object of the invention is to provide a detachable letter,figure or symbol in the form of an illuminating tube, imbedded in acomposition leaving only an outline portion of the tube exposed.

In the drawing illustrating my invention,

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a portion of the sign,

Figure 2 is a transverse elevational view through the case,

Figure 3 is a detail elevational view of one end of the mounting for theletters,

Figure 4 is a detail elevational view of the opposite end of themounting for the letters, and

Figure 5 is a detail view showing the underside of one of the circuitconnections.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

A designates a cabinet, made in any suitable ornamental design, adaptedto detachably mount thereon a plurality of letters, figures or symbols,formed by tubes containing luminescent gas, with an interior capacityfor housing a laterally adjustable mounting for the lamps, and anynecessary transformer and switch mechanism that may be required infitting up the Wiring circuits and connection.

The cabinet may be designed to provide for mounting more than one row ofinterchangeable letters, in the drawing I have shown two.

Formed through the top a of the cabinet A is an elongated opening B, forinserting the contacting prongs CC of the lamps D, hexagonal nuts or thelike C being carried on the prongs and abutting the base of the lamps Dacting as suitable spacers.

The lamps D are formed of glass tubes shaped to represent letters andfigures, filled With a luminescent gas, such as neon, and various othermixtures to produce a glow in various colours.

The glass tubes representin letters are partially imbedded in a plasticcomposition leaving only an outline portion of the tube showing abovethe plastic face, as shown particularly in Figures 1 and 3. Thisprovides a unitary structure having the electrodes disposed rearwardlyof the face of the composition which is preferably incased in a box-likeframe D The anode and cathode terminals of the tubes are disposed withinthis box-like structure, whollyimbedded in the composition, if desired,and having connection with the prongs CC which project from the plasticbody of the unit and thus provide in each instance a uniform, individualunit embodying a letter which can be interchangeably fitted on asuitable mounting to form a sign.

The prongs CC are adapted to engage with the lamp mounting E, laterallyadjustable in the interior of the cabinet, and positioned immediatelybeneath the top a and centered longitudinally with the opening B.

The lamp mounting E is formed by two parallel bars e and e spaced apartand held together by a series of bars I. Th bars e and e are preferablycomposed of a non-conductive material, such as vulcanite or fibre.

Formed through the top bar e are a series of pin openings 9, equallyspaced apart, and fitted in the lower bar e are a series of sockets h,held in position on the bar by fastening and lock nuts, i and 9'respectively. The lower ends of each alternate pair of sockets areconnected together by a wire connection It, preferably spot welded tohold in place.

Depending from one end of the mounting E is a contact extension F havingfitted in the lower end an anti-friction ball G, adapted to engage incontact with a plate H, electrified by a wire connection 2 extending tothe source of energy fitted in the cabinet.

Formed down into the center of the contact extension F, is a bore F inwhich may be inserted one of the prongs C, of the lamp D, the otherprong engaging in the next adjacent socket h.

Depending from the opposite end of the mounting E, are two contactextensions I and I having fitted in the lower ends anti-friction balls Jand J adapted to engage in contact with the plate K, electrified by awire connection 3, extending and connected up with the source of energyconnected with the cabinet.

The inner of the two contact extensions I, depending from the lower bare is connected up with the adjacent socket h, by a wire connection kspot welded with the lower end of the socket, but connected by a screw kinto the lower end of the extension I.

Formed down in the contact extension I and I are bores MM into which theprongs -0 of the lamp D may be inserted to make an electrical contact.

When the lamp mounting E is in normal position within the cabinet theextensions F and I are in respective contact with the contact plates Hand K. Consequently, since the lamps are then in series circuit theywill be caused to light when the current is turned on. When the mountingE has been laterally shifted in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4, theextension I disengages.

the plate K, while the extension I then comes into engagement with theplate K, thus the end letter of the sign is eliminated from electricalconnection and may be removed, the circuit being completed from theplate K through the extension I, connection It and socket h to completethe series connection throughout the remaining letters.

When the lamp mounting E is in normal position an even number of lampsmay be inserted and set therewith, and when the mounting has beenadjusted laterally an odd number of lamps may be inserted and set,. sothat in either case, any word or phrase being spelled by the lamps, willbe centered on the cabinet. 1

To provide for the lateral adjustment of the mounting E the top bar e ofthe mount engages in a channel bar e fitted in longitudinal relation inthe cabinet.

When the lamps are set in position on the cabinet to spell outthe nameor word, they are retained in position by a clamping frame 0 adapted toengage over the lamps and detachably connect with the cabinet.

The clamping frame 0 is also adapted for making and breaking the circuitwith the lamp.

For the purpose of inserting or interchanging the lamps for changing theword or phrase spelled out by the lamps, it will be necessary tocompletely remove the clamping frame 0 from the casing. By detachin andremovingthe clamping frame from the cabinet for the purpose of making areadjustment or change of the lamps, the circuit connecting with thelamps will be opened, which provides a safeguard against electric shock.The clamping frame 0 also acts as a guard to prevent the lamps frombeing accidentally knocked out of place.

Depending from the underside of the ends of the clamping frame 0 arecontact pins l0 and II, and I2 designates a circuit connection couplingwith the pins.

Fitted in the top of the cabinet at one end thereof are the sockets Bwhich are designed to receive the pins ID and I l of the frame 0. Thesockets l3 are not electrically connected and are designed to break thecontinuity of the feed circuit wire I4 as shown in Fig. 2. Feed wire 14as indicated, leads to the primary of the transformer [5, the feedcircuit to the primary transformer being completed by the lead Hi, theleads I4 and I6 connecting with a suitable source of power. This feedcircuit is completed when the clamping frame is placed in position sothat the pins [0 and H connected by the connecting wire 12 electricallyconnect sockets l3 so that current will then flow through the primary ofthe transformer IS. The secondary coil of the transformer is connectedby the lead 2 with the plate H while a similar lead connects with theplate K generally indicated by the numeral 3 (Fig. 4). Consequently, acomplete circuit is established only when the pins ID and H of the frame0 are introduced to the sockets l3 and this circuit is effected whetherthe mounting frame E is in normal position or has been shifted aspreviously described.

While I have only described the connnection and arrangement of one setof lamps mounted in detachable relation in the upper part of thecabinet, the second set of lamps shown on the lower front portion of thecabinet is similarly mounted, and coupled up in circuit in a similarmanner to the set in the top of the cabinet, receiving the source ofenergy from the same supply.

Adapted to be detachably positioned over the second set of letters is aframe P fitted with contact pins l6 and wire connection, which is alsoadapted to make and break the circuit, by fitting in position orremoving.

Various modification may be made in the arrangements of the parts andthe wiring of the circuit without deviating from the nature of myinvention.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An interchangeable letter sign comprising a cabinet having anelongated opening formed through the top thereof, a lamp mounting fittedin said cabinet and positioned beneath said opening, a series of lampsockets fitted in said mounting, a series of lamps formed in the shapesof letters comprising hermetically sealed tubes containing luminescentgas, adapted to be inserted and detachably engage in said sockets, aseries of contacts depending from said mounting, contact plates set insaid cabinet and engageable by said contacts, said mounting and contactswired in circuit with an electrical source fitted in said cabinet, saidlamp mounting adapted to be longitudinally adjusted to make and breakthe circuit connection with a portion of said lamp mounting and tocenter the display of lamps when varied on the said mounting numericallyand permutably.

2. An interchangeable letter sign comprising a cabinet having an openingformed therein, a lamp mounting adapted to longitudinal adjustmentfitted in said cabinet, said adjustment adapted for the purpose ofcentering said mounting in said cabinet when the lamps mounted thereonare varied numerically and permutably, a series of sockets wired inconsecutive pairs fit ted in said mounting, a series of lamps in theform of letters and comprising hermetically sealed tubes containingluminescent gas adapted to be inserted through said opening anddetachably fitted in said sockets, said mounting being wired andconnected up with a source of electric energy fitted in said cabinet, aguard adapted to engage over said letters and adapted to be detached forthe purpose of adjusting and inserting said letters, said guard havingan electric contact formed therewith for making and breaking circuitwhen being attached or detached from said cabinet.

JAMES R. STAR-NES.

